Paver Edging for a Lawn

by Denise Brown

Paver edging makes an ideal barrier for you to use to set off the different zones in your yard. Not only do garden edgers make it easier to keep grass from growing in the flowerbed, but they also keep soil and mulch from spilling onto the lawn. Concrete, natural stone or brick paver edging stones, unlike metal or plastic garden edgers, aren’t likely to cut you if you step on them. They’re also less of a tripping hazard for your children as they play in the yard.

Natural Stone

Natural stone lawn pavers may not cost you anything if you have rocks scattered around on your property. Otherwise, purchase stones close to the size and width you would like to make the landscape border. Stones may be flat, rounded, smooth or rough-edged -- it’s a matter of preference. As you set your stones, you can turn them to put the most appealing face of the stone facing outward from the flowerbed. A hammer and chisel can help you break off pieces of stone to make the rock fit into the border.

Brick

Bricks create a traditional paver edging for your landscape features. Laying bricks end to end creates a sailor pattern. This represents ships sailing in a row. Setting them side by side creates the soldier pattern, representing soldiers marching shoulder to shoulder. You can set the bricks in a single row, or you can create multiple rows to create elaborate patterns for your edging. It’s even possible to set bricks on the diagonal to create a zigzag edging pattern.

Concrete

Many styles and colors of concrete pavers are available. A common size is 12 by 4 inches. You can install concrete pavers with the large flat side horizontal with the ground, or, if you prefer, you can stand them on end. While the majority of concrete pavers are designed for creating straight edges, some are molded so that you can create curves in your landscape edges. Many concrete pavers have tongue-and-groove connections on their ends, which makes it easier to create a solid line of edging.

Installation

All paver edgings need a solid foundation. The best way to provide this is to dig a shallow trench about half the depth of the edging material. The trench needs to be as firm as possible and level. Lining the trench with landscape fabric prevents weeds from growing through the joints between the pavers. A bed of sand holds the pavers in place. If you prefer, you can also create joints between the pavers with sand.

About the Author

Denise Brown is an education professional who wanted to try something different. Two years and more than 500 articles later, she's enjoying her freelance writing experience for online resources such as Work.com and other online information sites. Brown holds a master's degree in history education from Truman State University.

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